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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused US special envoy Steve Witkoff of “disseminating Russian narratives” after he appeared to suggest that a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine hinged on the status of five Ukrainian regions.<\/p>\n
After holding a five-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin<\/a> on Friday, Witkoff told Fox News that a deal to end the war was “about these so-called five territories”.<\/p>\n “I think that Mr Witkoff has taken the strategy of the Russian side,” Zelensky told a Kyiv press conference on Thursday.<\/p>\n “I think it’s really dangerous, because consciously or unconsciously he is disseminating Russian narratives”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Witkoff appeared to be referring to the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions in eastern Ukraine, much of which are under Russian military occupation after Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion in 2022 with the aim of taking control of the whole country.<\/p>\n The fifth region is believed to be Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014 in a move not recognised internationally.<\/p>\n “The territories are ours, they belong to our people and not only us but the future Ukrainian people… So I don’t understand what he’s talking about,” said Zelensky.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In his interview with Fox News, Witkoff said: “This peace deal is about these so-called five territories. But there’s so much more to it\u2026 I think we might be on the verge of something that would be very important for the world at large.”<\/p>\n “On top of that, I believe there’s a possibility to reshape the Russian-United States relationship through some very compelling commercial opportunities that I think give real stability to the region too,” he added.<\/p>\n The US and Russia have been holding talks aimed at restoring diplomatic relations.<\/p>\n Zelensky’s intervention is not the first time he has criticised Witkoff.<\/p>\n In March, he said: “He doesn’t look like a military man. He doesn’t look like a general, and he doesn’t have such experience. As far as I know, he is very good at selling and buying real estate. And this is a little different.”<\/p>\n The Ukrainian leader’s comments came after top US, Ukrainian and European diplomats met in Paris to discuss the war<\/a> – a group that included Witkoff and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.<\/p>\n Meanwhile Donald Trump renewed his own criticisms of Zelensky on Thursday. He appeared to row back on earlier comments accusing the Ukrainian leader of starting the war<\/a> but said he was “not a big fan”.<\/p>\n “I don’t hold Zelensky responsible but I’m not exactly thrilled with the fact that that war started,” Trump said. <\/p>\n “I’m not blaming him, but what I am saying is that I wouldn’t say he’s done the greatest job, OK? I am not a big fan.”<\/p>\n Zelensky also told journalists that he had “information” China was supplying weapons to Russia.<\/p>\n “We have finally received information that China is supplying weapons to the Russian Federation,” he said. <\/p>\n “We believe that Chinese representatives are engaged in the production of some weapons on Russian territory,” he added.<\/p>\n China has not yet responded but has previously portrayed itself as a neutral party in the war.<\/p>\n Beijing did respond to an assertion last week by Zelensky that Chinese nationals were fighting for Russia<\/a> by advising “relevant parties to correctly and soberly understand China’s role and not to make irresponsible remarks”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n